BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2150
86R14566 JG-D	By: Kolkhorst
	Health & Human Services
	3/22/2019
	As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Congress passed the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act in 2018, which made grants available to the states for the purpose of reviewing pregnancy-related and pregnancy-associated deaths in maternal mortality review committees. The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has identified areas in which federal and state laws are not aligned to allow Texas to easily apply for these funds.

 

S.B. 2150 seeks to bring state law in alignment with federal law to allow Texas to apply for grant funding by adding a definition of "pregnancy-associated death," changing the name of the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force to the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee, and allowing health care professionals and family members to report certain data to DSHS.

 

As proposed, S.B. 2150 amends current law relating to the reporting of certain information on maternal mortality to the Department of State Health Services.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 34.001, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subdivisions (11-a) and (12-a) and amending Subdivisions (12) and (14), as follows:

 

(11-a) Defines "pregnancy-associated death."

 

(12) Redefines "pregnancy-related death" as the death of a woman while pregnant or within one year of delivery or end of pregnancy, regardless of the outcome, duration, or location of the pregnancy, rather than regardless of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes.

 

(12-a) Defines "review committee" as the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (review committee).

 

(14) Redefines "task force" as the review committee, rather than the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force.

 

SECTION 2. Amends the heading to Section 34.002, Health and Safety Code, to read as follows:

 

Sec. 34.002. MATERNAL MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY REVIEW COMMITTEE; REFERENCE IN LAW.

 

SECTION 3. Amends Section 34.002, Health and Safety Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1), as follows:

 

(a) Provides that the review committee, rather than the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force, is administered by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS).

 

(a-1) Provides that, notwithstanding any other law, a reference in this chapter or other law to the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force means the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee.

 

SECTION 4. Amends Section 34.017, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subsections (c) and (d), as follows:

 

(c) Authorizes DSHS to allow voluntary and confidential reporting to DSHS of pregnancy-associated deaths and pregnancy-related deaths by health care professionals, health care facilities, and persons who complete the medical certification for a death certificate for deaths reviewed or analyzed by the review committee.

 

(d) Requires DSHS to allow voluntary and confidential reporting to DSHS of pregnancy‑associated deaths and pregnancy-related deaths by family members of or other appropriate individuals associated with a deceased patient. Requires DSHS to post on DSHS�s Internet website the contact information for a report submitted under this subsection and conduct outreach to local health organizations on the availability of the review committee to review and analyze the deaths.

 

SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 2019.